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Since the beginning, the benefit to Halstead for allowing a battery energy storage system (BESS) has been in question. The only jobs provided would be temporary initial construction positions that may or may not be hired locally. Concurrent, the company leasing land in Halstead’s industrial park in hopes of building a BESS there, has stated it would be monitored remotely. It’s unclear what the tax status will be after House Bill 2083, which would have exempted BESS from property taxes, failed to get out of committee last session. Source: Harvey County Now

Panasonic is delaying full production in its De Soto battery plant because of dropping electric car sales and U.S. policies that do not support electric cars, international media reports. The $4 billion economic development project, billed as the largest in Kansas history, is threatened because of decreased electric car sales at Tesla and skepticism from President Donald Trump about encouraging electric vehicle adoption, according to the Nikkei Asia news outlet.  The plant was expected to reach full production by March 2027, and a new target date has not been set, Nikkei reported. Source: Kansas Reflector

The Overland Park City Council recently approved a purchase and sale agreement for a seven-story, 154,000-square foot building on College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue to create a new City Hall building. The current building – located at 8500 Santa Fe Dr. – is 60 years old and the campus is reaching the “end of its useful life,” according to the city — with the city facing challenges in serving its residents, finding adequate space for staff, meeting ADA requirements, reaching capacity limits in meeting spaces, and increasing maintenance costs. Source: Local Kansas City Missouri & Kansas News |

The new owners of Towne West Square say it will cost $41 million to breathe new life into the old mall. Wichita Maple LLC is asking the city to issue $21 million in industrial revenue bonds (IRB) and for a sales tax exemption on construction materials and labor. Wichita City Council member Dalton Glasscock supports the request because approving it does not risk taxpayer dollars. Source: KSN-TV

A Holcomb police officer has been awarded the department’s Medal of Merit for her courageous actions that helped save a 10-year-old boy trapped during an industrial accident last month. Field Training Officer Kayla Van Doren was recognized for her bravery and quick thinking during the June 18 emergency, when she responded to a call involving a child pinned beneath a heavily loaded flatbed trailer. According to the Holcomb Police Department, Van Doren arrived around 2 p.m. to find a chaotic scene. She immediately assisted the child’s father in using a jack to relieve the pressure from the trailer. Source: KSN-TV

The City of Wichita held a ribbon cutting Friday morning to celebrate the latest upgrades at Pracht Wetlands Park, one of the last remaining urban wetlands in the Midwest. Phase 3 of the park’s plan includes a new elevated boardwalk and a covered wildlife viewing area inspired by the Pracht family, who used to farm and hunt the land. Visitors will also see new sculptures by local artist Conrad Snider and educational panels about the wildlife and history of the area. Source: KSN-TV

After widespread flooding in June, Salina is still dealing with a massive log jam in Bill Burke Park. The pile-up hasn’t changed much in three weeks, and while the city is looking for a contractor to remove it, the $500,000 price tag has some people questioning the plan. Source: KSN-TV

Coffey County Sheriff Tom Johnson is understandably quite pleased with the county’s new Law Enforcement Center in Burlington. Johnson says this is a significant step forward for his department, as well as the County Attorney’s Office and jail. Johnson says the new building helps to bring all law enforcement operations under one roof, with administrative services, investigations and the jail on the ground floor and County Attorney Wade Bowie’s operations on the second level. Source: d2430

More interactive parks with technology, free wifi and programming for active senior citizens are among the improvements that residents should expect to see in the coming years. Implementation began this month of long-term plans to improve facilities and parks in town that cater to a variety of ages and abilities. “Eudora has an incredible sense of community,” City Commissioner and Parks Foundation Board member Alex Curnes said. “I also think it’s really important that Eudora remains a great place for all generations. The plan also helps us to see what the community feels is their priority.” Programming goals include continuing to [...]

Iola City Council members are being asked to reconsider the town’s long-standing prohibition of live chickens within the city limits. Why did the chicken cross the road? In this case, it’s to get to Monday’s Iola City Council meeting, where the city is once again being asked to allow such fowl creatures in residential neighborhoods. The oft-debated topic has been requested once again, after a split Council narrowly voted down an identical measure last spring. Source: The Iola Register